Philadelphia 76ers Rewind: The 2013 NBA Draft and Nerlens Noel

A Look Towards the Future

Jul 23, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie introduces first round draft pick center Nerlens Noel during a press conference at PCOM. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NBA Draft was Sam Hinkie’s first draft as mastermind of the Philadelphia 76ers and he let everyone know that he’s no man to mess with. He set the franchise up to have two lottery picks in the 2014 draft class, which featured — as we all know — Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins.

It would be a full calendar year until 76ers fans would see if trading away the 76ers former point guard and face of the franchise in Jrue Holiday would pay off or not. However, for the first time in a long time, the 76ers had a vision. With a new GM and a new coach coming along, there was a light at the end of the tunnel for the 76ers, a light that hadn’t been lit in almost a full decade.

The 76ers wouldn’t be mediocre, they would probably be historically bad. But, that was okay, because anything was better than mediocrity.